SRINAGAR, Sept 16: Moderates in the All Parties Hurriyat Conference said on Tuesday that they would keep pressing for talks to resolve the Kashmir dispute despite a split with hard-liners.

The hard-liners have accused Hurriyat Chairman Maulvi Abbas Ansari of being too soft and ridiculed his calls for talks with India, saying any dialogue must include Pakistan.

The moderates rallied behind Mr Ansari and clarified they also favoured talks that included Pakistan.

“India is a party. Pakistan is a party. But Kashmiris are the principal party. And the principal party should take an initiative,” said Abdul Gani Bhat, a former Hurriyat chairman.

Mr Ansari called a meeting of the APHC’s executive council, with four of the seven members showing up.—AFP